Population census to begin from March 15

ISLAMABAD: Chief Census Commissioner Asif Bajwa on Saturday announced that the countrywide exercise of fresh census will kick off from 15th March, 2017.

Census Commissioner Bajwa speaking at a workshop in Islamabad today, said that 82 percent of the country’s resources are distributed on the basis of population. He said that the population census taking place from 15th March, 2017 after a delay of nine years and will continue for six months. .

He said that Pakistan Army will provide security for the census drive. He added, “Terrorism will not have impact on the drive. We cannot predict the future, however the military is with us for the campaign.”

Bajwa, shedding light on the history of census in the region, said that it took place for the first time in 1881 and the first census of Pakistan took place in 1951.

Census chief stated that the scheduled census in 2008 was delayed due to security reasons. He said that the delimitation of the assembly constituencies will take place after the population count.

He said that the country-wide census will begin in two phases and everyone will be covered in it. “Overseas Pakistanis, not present in the country during the census drive, won’t be included in it,” he further said.

The census chief Bajwa further mentioned that the details collected by the officers will be kept secret.

He said that all the details regarding the upcoming population count have been elaborated on the website of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

Secretary Statistics Dr. Shujaat talking on the occasion called the preparations for the census drive as satisfactory. He said that the staff has been given proper training for the exercise.